JP2008504468A - Sliding car door drive system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive system for a motor vehicle door (1), in particular a sliding door (1). This device comprises a drive motor (4) and drive means (6, 7, 8, 9), said drive means being connected to said drive motor (4) and along an adjustment track (R). Acts on the car door (1). According to the present invention, a drive unit (5) and / or a torque converter is disposed between the drive motor (4) and the drive means (6, 7, 8, 9), and the torque converter and / or the drive unit is provided. Acts on the drive means (6, 7, 8, 9) with different torques depending on the load and / or signal.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a drive system for an automobile door, in particular a sliding door, which has a drive motor connected to drive means for moving the automobile door along an open / close track. The opening / closing track generally refers to the vehicle door or a track of its opening / closing movement while the opening / closing operation of the vehicle door is performed. The opening / closing track is usually predetermined by one (or several) guide rails.

  Today, such drive systems are increasingly used in automotive sliding doors that can be operated by remote control or the like. This means that the essential drive motor (in most cases an electric motor) ensures the automatic opening and closing of the car door or sliding door (and by remote control). Examples of such sliding door drive parts are described in DE 43 41 153 A1, EP 0 040 631 B1, DE 35 38 837 A1. And in WO 99/09282 A1.

  According to the prior art of DE 196 07 552 A1 on which the present invention is based, there is provided drive means having a reduction gear and a reel for winding and unwinding the cable. Yes.

  The prior art has generally been tried and tested, but in most cases, in addition to the drive system described above, a door closing aid or the like to move a car door or sliding door from a closed position to a closed position. Has the disadvantage of requiring This movement of the door is in most cases a movement that resists the force of the rubber seal around the door opening.

  In this regard, for example, EP 0 040 631 B1 suggests that the drive motor or electric motor has first and second excitation coils. Switching on the second excitation coil provides the lateral movement of the door or sliding door normally associated with the closed position and additional output. This is expensive because a special motor must be used.

  German Offenlegungsschrift 196 07 552 A1 describes a similarly expensive solution which requires an additional sliding door closing device. German Offenlegungsschrift 35 38 837 A1 provides a similar solution using a separate cable pulley device. The present invention aims to improve this situation.

  The present invention is based on the technical problems associated with improved drive systems for automobile doors, specifically sliding doors, and ensures a fault-free operation with a relatively simple design. is there.

  In order to solve this technical problem, a drive system is provided in which a gear or generally a torque converter is provided between the drive motor and the drive means, the gear or torque converter depending on the load and / or signal. It acts on the drive means with different torques. Preferably, each of the gears is a planetary gear having an individual gear member, and is connected according to a desired torque when returning to the operating means. That is, individually selected gear members (of the planetary gear) are reliably connected by the operating means in accordance with the output load or the operating signal and / or sensor signal.

  The actuating means may connect the selected gear member by a spring and / or an actuator. The planetary gear includes at least a ring gear, a planet carrier, a planetary gear, and a sun gear, as in a normal case. The gear is normally connected to the drive means by the sun gear, while the drive motor acts on the planet carrier or ring gear.

  The operating means can act on the ring gear to generate various torques on the gear. Additionally or alternatively, the actuating means can act on the planet carrier. In any case, the actuating means ensures that the gear member (usually the ring gear or planet carrier) that is acted upon is stopped or unstopped. When the gear member is stopped, the torque on the output side increases and the increased torque is available to the desired level in the sun gear and the connected drive means. However, when the ring gear or the planet carrier can freely rotate, the gears basically operate so as to be fixedly connected between the drive motor and the drive means. Absent.

  The distinction based on this different torque is that the opening and closing track of the vehicle door (ie the track that the vehicle door follows during opening or closing, or the track defined by at least one guide rail) has mainly a closed track and a closing track. In accordance with the present invention, both of the tracks are completed with different gear torques. Normally, a 1: 1 gear ratio generated by each gear or planetary gear that makes a pseudo-fixed connection between the drive motor and the drive means without changing torque is used for the closing track. . This functional state takes into account the situation of the closing track of the automobile door that needs to be completed as quickly as possible. Furthermore, since the door moves substantially parallel to the automobile body along the closing track, the load is not expected to increase.

  At the end of the closing track, the car door moves to a closing track corresponding to the movement of the car door mainly in the lateral direction. During this lateral movement, the motor vehicle door leaves a protruding position parallel to the main body of the motor vehicle and for this purpose moves mainly vertically into each adaptation opening. This closing track is normally set when the vehicle door latch on the vehicle door is in the locking position (first position or primary position) of the locking mechanism with respect to the fastening bolt on the side of the vehicle body. Migrate to Of course, the reverse arrangement is also possible. That is, the automobile door latch can be arranged on the automobile body, and the fastening bolt can be arranged on the automobile door.

  In any case, when the vehicle door is positioned with respect to the lock position of the vehicle body or the vehicle door latch, the door closing track is surely shifted to the pulling closing track. In the present invention, it is possible to detect that the lock position has been reached by a sensor having an individual sensor signal, and in response to this signal, the gear between the drive motor and the drive means is subjected to another torque. It will be sure to change to level. For this purpose, the aforementioned actuating means can, for example, stop the ring gear or planet carrier in response to the signal, whereby the force flow is reduced through the planet carrier or ring gear, It is transmitted to the drive means via the sun gear.

  The torque change actually corresponds to a gear reduction of 8: 1, for example. Therefore, the automobile door moves along the closing track at a speed that is only one-eighth of the moving speed along the closing track, and the closing track is several millimeters or several centimeters at the longest. There is no loss of comfort because it is limited. Of course, the present invention also includes other gear reductions and therefore other speed ratios.

  The torque change need not be solely in response to the aforementioned sensor signal and / or actuation signal. Alternatively or additionally, load dependent (and automatic) changes are possible. That is, higher torque is required on the output side of the drive means to move the car door or sliding door, and at the same time the gear or planetary gear of the present invention (automatically) switches to another gear reduction speed, The movement of the automobile door can be continued without interruption.

  Thus, the drive system described above is characterized by automatically detecting a load increase scenario, in which the vehicle door lock position or a specific predetermined position has been reached, or The torque of the gear is changed by detecting any increase in torque required on the output side. This torque change is preferably made automatically using the actuating means providing the connection of the selected gear member, for example by means of a spring (to reduce the gear to the desired speed). Similarly, the actuating means can also change the torque by means of an actuator, in which case most of the signal and / or sensor evaluation is performed in advance. Therefore, there is no need to prevent trapping.

  Usually, the trapping prevention ensures that the drive means is switched off when an increase in torque is detected at the output section or when the contact section disposed on the rubber seal of the door is closed. To do. Similarly, the power consumed by the drive motor can be evaluated. By using the embodiment of the special gear and actuating means according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably distinguish between “trapping”, “closing” or “pulling” load scenarios.

  While moving along the closing track, for example, an increase in torque corresponding to trapping is not expected. For this reason, it is determined that an increase in current consumption of the electric motor or the drive motor accompanying an increase in torque at the output unit is unexpected, and the motor is switched off. Also, the motor may be switched off when the torque increases in the same way while moving along the pulling path. These are the main advantages of the present invention.

  The drawing shows a drive system for an automobile door 1. Although FIG. 1 shows only a part of the automobile door 1, the automobile door 1 reciprocates in the longitudinal direction of the automobile along a guide rail 3 parallel to the automobile body 2 along the opening / closing track R. It does not refer only to the sliding door 1. In order to provide this movement of the motor vehicle door 1 or sliding door 1, a drive motor 4 and connected drive means 6, 7, 8, 9 are provided. Between the drive motor 4 which is an electric motor 4 and the drive means 6, 7, 8, 9, the present invention provides a gear 5 which will be described in detail below.

  The drive means 6, 7, 8, 9 include a worm gear 6, a winding reel 7 connected to the worm gear 6, and an upper traction cable 8 and a lower traction cable 9 that are wound and unwound on the winding reel 7. And traction cables 8 and 9. The reciprocating movement of the traction cables 8 and 9 causes the automobile door or sliding door 1 to move to the door closing position shown in FIG. 1 and to move to the door opening position along the guide rail 3, and to the opening / closing track R. And return to the original position. This is indicated by the reciprocating arrow in FIG. The opening and closing operation of the automobile door 1 can be started by a remote control (not shown) having a logical reverse function and acting on the drive motor 4.

  According to the invention, the gear 5 described above is provided between the drive motor 4 and the drive means 6, 7, 8, 9. In the figure, the gears are planetary gears 10, 11, 12, 13 (see FIGS. 4 and 7). The planetary gears 10, 11, 12, and 13 actually have a ring gear 10, a planet carrier 11, a planetary gear 12, and a sun gear 13. With the assistance of the gear 5 or the planetary gears 10, 11, 12 and 13, the drive motor 4 can act on the automobile door 1 by applying different torques to the drive means 6, 7, 8 and 9. It becomes. The various torque changes produced by the gear 5 and each planetary gear 10, 11, 12, 13 depend on the load and / or the signal.

  The reciprocating movement of the cable or steel cable 8, 9 is made possible by the movement of both traction cables 8, 9 along the circumference of the refracting pulley 14 at the end of the guide rail 3, so that also from FIG. As is apparent, the automobile door 1 moves along the guide rail 3 as indicated by the reciprocating arrow R in FIG.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 4, automatic torque change according to the load of the planetary gears 10, 11, 12, 13 is shown. As is apparent from this figure, at this stage, the free wheel 15 is between the ring gear 10 and the housing 16. Further, by providing the operating means 17, the gear members of the planetary gears 10, 11, 12, and 13 that are individually selected according to the load on the output side are connected. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the actuating means 17 is assisted by a spring and is shown in the figure as a spring leg 17a having a convex portion 17b. The convex portion 17 b is functionally engaged with the concave portion 18 of the ring gear 10.

  The planet carrier 11 is connected to the drive motor 4, and the sun gear 13 of the planetary gears 10, 11, 12, 13 acts on the drive means 6, 7, 8, 9, more precisely on the worm gear 6. To do.

  During normal operation, the sun gear 13, ring gear 10, planet carrier 11 and planet gear 12 form a pseudo-fixed module 10, 11, 12, 13 so that the drive motor 4 is substantially 1: 1. It acts on the worm gear 6 and consequently acts on the driving means 6, 7, 8 and 9 to move the automobile door 1. On the other hand, when the load increases on the load side, that is, the drive means 6, 7, 8, 9 or the worm gear 6, the torque increases in the planetary gears 10, 11, 12, 13. This increase in torque is achieved by the freewheel 15, allowing the driven ring gear 10 to rotate while the torque is normally applied.

  However, when the torque in the drive means 6, 7, 8, 9 increases, the free wheel 15 stops the ring gear 10, so that the planetary gear 12 that has been rotating together with the ring gear 10 is in this stage. It rotates inside the ring gear. At the same time, the planet carrier 11 rotates with respect to the ring gear 10, the drive motor 4 acts on the planet carrier 11 and the planetary gear 12, and finally the sun gear 13 and the worm gear 6 connected thereto. Act on. As a result, the gear reduction or torque increase employed by the present invention occurs on the output side, so that the door is pulled along the closing track Z via the closing track S, as schematically shown in FIG. Move to.

  Instead of changing the gear 5 or the planetary gears 10, 11, 12, 13 according to the load, the ring gear 10 of the planetary gears 10, 11, 12, 13 is used by using other operating means 19, 20, 21. It is also possible to stop and obtain the above results. For this purpose, the actuating means 19, 20, 22 engage the ring gear 10 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the actuating means 19, 20, 21 can stop the planet carrier 11 as shown in FIGS.

  In any case, in this embodiment, the actuating means 19, 20, 21 includes an actuator 19, a worm 20 (in some cases, a cam gear 20 '), and a stop lever 21 that receives the action of the worm 20. The present invention is not limited to this deployment. The stop lever 21 is engaged with the convex portion 22 at the concave portion 23 of the planet carrier 11 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) or the ring gear 10 (see FIG. 5). As a result, the ring gear 10 or the planet carrier 11 stops, and as a result, in the first case, the output from the drive motor flows through the planet carrier 11 and the planetary gear 12 and finally through the sun gear 13. It flows to the worm gear 6. In the second case, the drive motor 4 drives the ring gear 10 and the planetary gear 12, and finally drives the sun gear 13 and the worm gear 6 connected thereto.

  In any case, the torque provided by the drive motor 4 is a load generated when moving along the pulling and closing track Z (for example, a load generated by pressurizing a rubber seal of a surrounding door). Decreases because it is needed to overcome.

  Of course, different torques of the gear 5 are used for movement along the closing track S and the closing track Z. The change in the torque of the gear 5 is automatically performed by detecting a load scenario as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the connecting portion 17 that receives the assistance of the spring and the freewheel 15 are fixed to the gear 10 that has been in a non-stop state. Alternatively or additionally, the actuating means 19, 20, 21 and the stop lever 21 can stop the gear member (ring gear 10 or planet carrier 11). In this case, the sensor signal and / or the actuation signal in the mandatory vehicle door latch can be evaluated to indicate that it is in the locked position (first position or primary position). As a result, since the increase in torque does not occur while the automobile door 1 is moving along the closing track S, for example, it is not necessary to prevent trapping. However, when the torque increases and the current from the drive motor 4 increases, this state is erroneously operated and the drive motor 4 is automatically stopped.

  Of course, the actuating means 17 or 19, 20, 21 is in principle optional as long as the desired gear member (ring gear 10 or planet carrier 11) is reliably stopped as required for switching to increased torque. It is possible to adopt the design. In addition, the outer peripheral spring 24 in or on the planet carrier 11 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 moves the planet carrier 11 to a predetermined (and specific) after the stop by the operating means 19, 20, 21 is released. Make sure to return to position. For this purpose, the spring 24 is fitted into the housing recess 25 and is reliably stopped.

Hereinafter, the details of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing only one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the drive system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating FIG. 1 in detail. FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 2 viewed from the X direction. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a gear according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the gear. FIG. 6 is a modification of the embodiment of FIG. FIG. 7 is obtained by removing the ring gear from FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a part of FIG. 7 in detail.

Claims (8)

  A drive system for an automobile door (1), specifically a sliding door (1), connected to a drive motor (4) for moving the automobile door along an opening and closing track (R) A driving means (6, 7, 8, 9), and a gear (5) is provided between the driving motor (4) and the driving means (6, 7, 8, 9). 5) Actuates the drive means (6, 7, 8, 9) with different torques depending on the load and / or signal.   2. The drive system according to claim 1, wherein the drive system is provided with actuating means (17, 19, 20, 21) acting on the connection of individually selected gear members (10, 11, 12, 13). It is characterized by this.   3. The drive system according to claim 1, wherein the actuating means (17, 19, 20, 21) are spring assisted and / or the selected gear member (19) using an actuator (19). 10, 11, 12, and 13) are connected.   4. The drive system according to claim 1, wherein the gear (5) comprises at least a ring gear (10), a planet carrier (11), a planet gear (12) and a sun gear (13). (10, 11, 12, 13).   5. The drive system according to claim 1, wherein the actuating means (17, 19, 20, 21) engage with the ring gear (10) and / or the planet carrier (11), A different torque of the gear (5) is generated.   6. The drive system according to claim 1, wherein the gear (5) is connected to the drive means (6, 7, 8, 9) by the sun gear (13), while the drive motor. (4) is characterized by acting on the planet carrier (11) and / or the ring gear (10).   In one of the drive systems according to claims 1 to 6, the opening and closing track (R) for the automobile door (1) comprises a closing track (S) and a pulling and closing track (Z), The door is characterized in that it moves along both tracks (S, Z) with different torques of the gear (5).   8. The drive system according to claim 1, wherein the switching between the different torques is triggered by a sensor and / or an actuation signal.

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